Summary and Objective
Students will understand that, in 1963, people learned of national events from their local newspaper. "The March on Washington" was a seminal event in the history of the Civil Rights Movements. In this lesson, students will explore two newspaper articles about the March that appeared in the Greenfield Gazzette in August of 1963.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
The teacher will explain to the students that the goal of this activity is to explore the way in which the March on Washington was presented in a community newspaper.
Step 2.
Brain storm activity: Students will write five facts about the March on Washington. Teacher will lead a whole group discussion about the march.
Step 3.
Teacher will divide the students into 2 groups. Group one will read "Leaders of March Still Have Not Attained Goal". Group two will read "Drama vs. Reality".
Step 4.
Students in group one will read "Leaders of March Still Have Not Attained Goal" focusing on the following: Martin Luther King, President Kennedy, A. Philip Randolph, John Lewis, the U.S. congress. Students will record on large oak tag the effectiveness of "The March" through the eyes of the above individuals and group.
Step 5.
Group two will read "Drama vs. Reality". Students will record on large oak tag the author's views of the effectiveness of "The March".
Step 6.
Groups will report the results of their activities to the whole group and post their oak tags so that all can see them.
Step 7.
Wrap up activity: Students will write a paragraph answering the following prompt. Had you lived in 1963, would you have thought "The March" was a success or a failure? Why?
Step 8.
Lesson Extension: Teacher may locate a 1963 report on "The March" from their local newspaper to add to the activity. Alternately, the students may be required to complete a primary source search article on "The March" from their local paper and record the authors view of the success or failure of "The March".
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